Head coach Sean Payton has made it clear that he wants to make the switch to a 3-4 defense and both coaches have experience running that scheme.

At stops with the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys, Ryan has coordinated a 3-4 defense. Ryan was fired by the Cowboys last month.

Last week, he reportedly was near an agreement to be the St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator, but the two sides ultimately parted ways over philosophical differences. The Rams were not looking to change their 4-3 alignment and that reportedly was one reason for the mutual decision from both parties to move in other directions.

Grantham, the defensive coordinator at the University of Georgia, is also a candidate to be the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive coordinator, according to multiple reports.

Grantham has been at Georgia for three seasons and run a 3-4 defense with the Bulldogs. He also spent 11 years in the NFL as a defensive assistant, including a three-year stint as the Cleveland Browns' defensive coordinator from 2005 to 2007).